Class of 2012 and students seeking summer jobs enter challenging job market

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - According to a new study, more than 50 percent of people who were younger than 25 with a bachelor's degree were jobless or underemployed last year. That's the worst it's been in more than a decade.

At his aunt's home in Fort Pierce, Xavier Gordon showed off his tech savvy skills. He created an animated cartoon scene for school about two blobs that fall in love. Or so it appears.

The Indian River State College video game design sophomore hopes to put his tech skills to good use. He's looking for a summer job.

"A lot of jobs on the job market involve technology, " Gordon pointed out.

A struggling labor market has made it tough for Gordon and millions of other young Americans hoping to land that perfect job. A newly released Northeastern University study found half of young college graduates are jobless or underemployed.

At the IRSC Career Center in Fort Pierce, professionals are facing those challenges every day.

"Basically where we help our students is the strategy that they're going to need to accompany that degree," said center director Jacquelene Burke.

Burke says the school's job bank has grown from about 30 jobs in January to 80 this month. But, she acknowledges the job climate is still tough.

"It's a challenge, but I think our students are definitely up to it," Burke said.

"I know it sounds like a cliche, but it's really a serious thing to stay positive," advised Gordon.

National reports show there's a strong demand for jobs in the field of science, education and health. Burke said all three of those fields are currently offering good job opportunities on the Treasure Coast.